Stingray Bose Sound System
Racer
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 272
Likes: 0
From: Homestead Florida
St. Jude Donor '13
Good luck with that. Got my hearing aids from the VA 4 months ago, artillery MOS. My ex always thought that I used my hearing problems as a reason for not listening to her and refused to believe that I really couldn't hear her. "How convenient" she loved to say. Now that she lives 200 miles away I not only can't hear her but can't see her either, been working out just fine.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,074
Likes: 309
IMO the best stereo option would be "radio delete" like they have on the Z/28. That would probably save something on the order of 20 pounds and for those who need the noise it would gove them a blank slate on which to install their preferred system.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,316
Likes: 1
From: Ridgewood NJ
Very simple rule.
Anytime you have your stereo cranked up, you are damaging your hearing. If you can speak in a normal tone like you would use at a large dinner table or gathering, and hear your voice clearly over the music, the damage is minimal, especially if you keep that volume up for 30 min or less.
Anytime you can't hear your own voice, you are doing irreparable damage and looking at hearing aids in your later years, if you are lucky.
When I see some of the amps and speakers that some folks put in their cars, I can't help but think they have decided that being nearly deaf by 60 would be acceptable. That's kind of sad.
Y'all be careful.
Anytime you have your stereo cranked up, you are damaging your hearing. If you can speak in a normal tone like you would use at a large dinner table or gathering, and hear your voice clearly over the music, the damage is minimal, especially if you keep that volume up for 30 min or less.
Anytime you can't hear your own voice, you are doing irreparable damage and looking at hearing aids in your later years, if you are lucky.
When I see some of the amps and speakers that some folks put in their cars, I can't help but think they have decided that being nearly deaf by 60 would be acceptable. That's kind of sad.
Y'all be careful.
I'm all for a nice sound system but I only need to have the volume at a balance with the engine noise. Anything louder is unnecessary. Just like the soundtrack of a movie, you don't want it to overpower the dialogue.
It's pretty lame to have tinnitus from peacocking your car stereo to people on the street who 90% of the time just want you to turn that crap off.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,936
Likes: 260
From: Westchester County New York
Let me rephrase CRASH ..... Got my Z I put on my fav cd and the sound wasn't cutting it . 2 weeks later I had the stereo done . I'm sure the c7 sound will be ok , but if your an audiophile it's not gonna cut it . I enjoy a nice crispy sound with clear mids, punchy midbass , and a nice low sub bass around 30hertz . I don't mean to sound like a jerk but it extends from my teen years , everytime I got a new car the system went in next , also growing up in Brooklyn that was the norm. Back in the day . Peace
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 97,155
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From: Calgary, AB. There's a reason why white was the only color offered on every year Corvette. Proud Canadian German Jamaican!
St. Jude Donor '09, '12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
One of the reasons why I went with a 2LT over the 1LT was the upgraded stereo, I wonder if there is going to be that big of a difference between the two. I'm by no means an audiophile but I do love listening to my music when I drive and I certainly want the best factory system I can get.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2002
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Tech Contributor
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St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'10
One of the reasons why I went with a 2LT over the 1LT was the upgraded stereo, I wonder if there is going to be that big of a difference between the two. I'm by no means an audiophile but I do love listening to my music when I drive and I certainly want the best factory system I can get.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 97,155
Likes: 1,471
From: Calgary, AB. There's a reason why white was the only color offered on every year Corvette. Proud Canadian German Jamaican!
St. Jude Donor '09, '12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 759
Likes: 38
From: Ellicott City MD
Good luck with that. Got my hearing aids from the VA 4 months ago, artillery MOS. My ex always thought that I used my hearing problems as a reason for not listening to her and refused to believe that I really couldn't hear her. "How convenient" she loved to say. Now that she lives 200 miles away I not only can't hear her but can't see her either, been working out just fine.
I count myself fairly lucky so far - at 48 I am still good out out past 10khz. The dog won't be jealous but given the amount of musical abuse I put my ears through early in life, I'll take it!
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 9,435
Likes: 0
St. Jude Donor '14
Good luck with that. Got my hearing aids from the VA 4 months ago, artillery MOS. My ex always thought that I used my hearing problems as a reason for not listening to her and refused to believe that I really couldn't hear her. "How convenient" she loved to say. Now that she lives 200 miles away I not only can't hear her but can't see her either, been working out just fine.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,055
Likes: 24
From: Cary NC
If you didn't read through the long firsthand recap of driving a C7 in the "Stingrays in the Desert" thread, you might have missed the one down note in an otherwise rave review:
Boomy, muddy overemphasized bass is an all-too-common problem in consumer automotive audio systems. I hope this can get dialed back. Interesting that our correspondent liked the lower-priced BOSE system more than the higher priced one.
The car I was driving had the 10-speaker audio system that includes a sub-woofer mounted in a 15 liter box. Apparently, the designers did not take time to do any math around acoustically fitting the sub to the payload area, or tuning it to its cabinet size. That or they must have simply thought bigger is better and that's it. The system, with tone controls set flat sounds enormously boomy and the bass response is as floppy and inaccurate as a bowl of el-dente noodles. If you like big, blurry bass to the point that your license plate holder is rattling loud enough to be heard inside the car, or you're one of those people who immediately and automatically turn up the bass without even listening to the system and no regard for anything else in the song that's on, then you might enjoy this system. I ended up turning the bass down about 1/2 to 2/3 of its adjustable range and it still sounded boomy and inaccurate to me. Any lower than that and it immediately went anemic. Last week, a GM engineer told me that the audio team wanted more space for their boom box sub but were told no. Good call... I can't imagine what they were thinking.
I did get in a different car at the track that did not have the boom-box sub option and its system sounded adequate. Not fantastic but better than the more expensive system with the sub.
To be fair, the system does give you lots of source options (3 USB ports) and a confusing array of sound modes (normal, driver, etc.) There is no CD player, showing that GM is staying with the times. I still like a CD player for simplicity and because I'm too lazy to convert my huge library but there's an SD card slot in the center console that will allow one to take many CD's worth of music in the space of a postage stamp, so no complaints from me here. All this while being fairly simple to operate via the MyLink touch screen. As well, it did a nice job of seamlessly integrating with my iPod right on-screen. I spent no appreciable time listening to traditional AM or FM radio, so I can't speak to those abilities.
I took my 5th gen iPod Touch along with me on the trip so I could switch between satellite radio and my own tunes. I am also a person with what I consider to be no musical taste - I like it all. On my trip I listened to everything from Barenaked Ladies to Train, to Warren Haynes (how could I NOT listen to 'Man in Motion'?) to Shpongle, as well as Indian and Western classical. Once the bass was somewhat in control, it was reasonably tolerable. For the price of this vehicle, I was left wanting in this one area of sound quality. Sorry but I just have to be honest here...
I did get in a different car at the track that did not have the boom-box sub option and its system sounded adequate. Not fantastic but better than the more expensive system with the sub.
To be fair, the system does give you lots of source options (3 USB ports) and a confusing array of sound modes (normal, driver, etc.) There is no CD player, showing that GM is staying with the times. I still like a CD player for simplicity and because I'm too lazy to convert my huge library but there's an SD card slot in the center console that will allow one to take many CD's worth of music in the space of a postage stamp, so no complaints from me here. All this while being fairly simple to operate via the MyLink touch screen. As well, it did a nice job of seamlessly integrating with my iPod right on-screen. I spent no appreciable time listening to traditional AM or FM radio, so I can't speak to those abilities.
I took my 5th gen iPod Touch along with me on the trip so I could switch between satellite radio and my own tunes. I am also a person with what I consider to be no musical taste - I like it all. On my trip I listened to everything from Barenaked Ladies to Train, to Warren Haynes (how could I NOT listen to 'Man in Motion'?) to Shpongle, as well as Indian and Western classical. Once the bass was somewhat in control, it was reasonably tolerable. For the price of this vehicle, I was left wanting in this one area of sound quality. Sorry but I just have to be honest here...
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 3,716
Likes: 15
From: Tri Cities TN
I always chuckle at the way these consumer-targeted press releases are written. I don't get all bent out of shape, because it's just part of the general hype game, and no audio enthusiast would take the hyperbole seriously.
"...includes some advanced features that can provide live rock-concert-level volume without audible distortion. Will Stingray drivers have to wear earplugs to save their hearing?"
[Wow... there's a scary thought. Look up what live rock concert level volume is. And why does anyone think volume equals quality?]"The Centerpoint system converts the stereo signal into multiple channels to reproduce the music with greater accuracy, making every voice and instrument sound like it’s on a concert stage."
[Hmmm... Artificially creating additional channels that weren't recorded or mastered is "greater accuracy?" Fascinating! Should every voice and instrument sound like it's on a concert stage?]If you didn't read through the long firsthand recap of driving a C7 in the "Stingrays in the Desert" thread, you might have missed the one down note in an otherwise rave review:
Boomy, muddy overemphasized bass is an all-too-common problem in consumer automotive audio systems. I hope this can get dialed back. Interesting that our correspondent liked the lower-priced BOSE system more than the higher priced one.
Boomy, muddy overemphasized bass is an all-too-common problem in consumer automotive audio systems. I hope this can get dialed back. Interesting that our correspondent liked the lower-priced BOSE system more than the higher priced one.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 385
Likes: 1
From: Maryland
One of, if not the biggest influences on good sound is the source material. Considering that there is no Cd player, the compression of the digital files being played back are going to make a bigger difference than which system you get. There is a great amount of poor &/or incorrect info about digital files. Some people Believe that 128kbps is CD quality. Fortunately, because of the compromises in the cabin of the car, audiophile quality files are almost wasted. I usually use FLAC files but most players won't play them. I'm still a CD guy mostly due to equipment. I still play CD's at home because I have a very good player. Because of portable equipments inability to play lossless codec, IE FLAC or AAC, I've pretty much decided on doing 320 kbps which is the best sounding MP3. But 1st, I'll need to install a pigtail to my audio system so as to hook up my smartphone to it.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 3,608
Likes: 13
From: New Rochelle N.Y. 2013 Grand Sport
I have been trying to preach this line of thought forever on this forum but nobody will listen. They have it in their head that Bose equals ****** sound PERIOD! The Bose in my '13 GS sounds really good because I use properly recorded source material. My nephew has a home recording studio and the quality of the sound of the songs he puts on my touch are incredible. He takes alot of pride in his recordings and uses the latest EQ's, processors and the like to make 70's music sound incredible. People have said to me "Thats not the stock Bose that comes with the car it sounds too good".
16 Vettes and counting…..
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 4,811
Likes: 1,146
I have been trying to preach this line of thought forever on this forum but nobody will listen. They have it in their head that Bose equals ****** sound PERIOD! The Bose in my '13 GS sounds really good because I use properly recorded source material. My nephew has a home recording studio and the quality of the sound of the songs he puts on my touch are incredible. He takes alot of pride in his recordings and uses the latest EQ's, processors and the like to make 70's music sound incredible. People have said to me "Thats not the stock Bose that comes with the car it sounds too good".
The Bose systems in the Vette have always been $hit. Based on the review by someone who seems quite bright, I'll wager the new one is $hit as well.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 139
Likes: 11
I'll certainly give the Bose system a chance in the C7, but I'll be pleasantly surprised if I like it.
I'd like to address a comment about concerns regarding high-wattage systems in cars. I'm a pro performing & recording musician as well as someone with a real picky set of ears. Having said that, the extra wattage in a high-end auto system for me, isn't about volume- it's about clean power and headroom. This is what I look for in a high-wattage, clean powered system. You don't have to blow out the windows in the car next to you or fry your ears and for me its not about that at all- the difference is huge with clean power and a lot of headroom in the system at a decent, comfortable listening level.
I just want to hear the music as cleanly, as dynamically as possible- (of course when we talk about dynamic range, modern POP & ROCK mastering techniques is a whole 'nother subject and often throws the dynamic range in a recording right out the window..) So if we have, say, a system with 100 watts total playing at 65 db in the car vs a 1500 watt system (with some quality amplifiers & transducers) playing at the same volume of 65db there will be a huge difference in what it sounds like. HUGE. This is a rather elementary description with many variables, but that's it in a nutshell.
Hope the BOSE delivers in the C7. I really don't want my interior taken apart.
I'd like to address a comment about concerns regarding high-wattage systems in cars. I'm a pro performing & recording musician as well as someone with a real picky set of ears. Having said that, the extra wattage in a high-end auto system for me, isn't about volume- it's about clean power and headroom. This is what I look for in a high-wattage, clean powered system. You don't have to blow out the windows in the car next to you or fry your ears and for me its not about that at all- the difference is huge with clean power and a lot of headroom in the system at a decent, comfortable listening level.
I just want to hear the music as cleanly, as dynamically as possible- (of course when we talk about dynamic range, modern POP & ROCK mastering techniques is a whole 'nother subject and often throws the dynamic range in a recording right out the window..) So if we have, say, a system with 100 watts total playing at 65 db in the car vs a 1500 watt system (with some quality amplifiers & transducers) playing at the same volume of 65db there will be a huge difference in what it sounds like. HUGE. This is a rather elementary description with many variables, but that's it in a nutshell.
Hope the BOSE delivers in the C7. I really don't want my interior taken apart.
Last edited by 1BlinkGone; Sep 1, 2013 at 01:18 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 6,516
Likes: 4,840
From: One Hour From Boston!
Exactly. I put JBL's in my Jeep and the difference was indescribable over the stock speakers. I left the Bose system in my Corvette only because it seemed overly complicated to swap out. I wish Chevy would have contracted with JBL instead of Bose, then chances are it would be at least tolerable.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 3,608
Likes: 13
From: New Rochelle N.Y. 2013 Grand Sport
You just proved my point. Another Bose hater no matter what the situation. Have you ever heard professionally re-recorded quality source material on a Bose or are you just jumping on the anti Bose bandwagon. I'm not saying it's the greatest either but when you put the proper quality thru it it makes a dramatic difference. I really hope your not one of the ignorant people that says bose sucks just because everybody else does because your posts in the past have been insightful and I would have thought you would have listened to the Bose with the 9 speaker upgrade in the 12' and 13' model ( with properly recorded music )years before making your statement.